Tipani, are you sure you don't want to say goodbye to Major General Jonathan and Head Chef Jessica?
On board the Dragon Wolf, Shanks looked at the girl, who still seemed a little reluctant, and asked kindly.
Tipani thought for a moment, then shook her head.
"Better not. If they find out I'm going off with you guys to be a pirate… let them think you kidnapped me instead! Maybe that's for the best."
Fang Yi walked over and patted her shoulder.
"If you don't want to say goodbye in person, you should at least write them a letter. That way, they'll know you're safe. Otherwise… they might worry."
"That's right!" Brook nodded in agreement. "I can deliver it for you!"
"No need—just go write it. I'll deliver it myself, don't worry. It'll be fine." Fang Yi tapped the bow on his back with confidence.
Seeing this, Tipani nodded.
"O… okay then."
What none of them knew was that, not far away in a bay, Jonathan was already there with Jessica in his arms, quietly waiting.
"You guessed Tipani wanted to sail away with them, didn't you?" Jessica asked worriedly.
"Not exactly. But I've known for a long time—sooner or later, that child was bound to go out to sea," Jonathan said with a gentle smile.
"Honestly… what's so good about being a pirate? Why go out to sea at all? Isn't it nice just staying here?" Jessica asked, puzzled.
"Hahaha… Don't you usually complain that base life is too easygoing?" Jonathan chuckled.
"Hmph!" Jessica shot him a glare and turned her head.
"So? Did you figure out who those pirates are? They're not some ruthless criminals, right?"
"They're… hardly nobodies," Jonathan said quietly, glancing at the bounty posters in his hand. "And besides—you've already met them."
"If they weren't decent people, I'd never have let Tipani go! But they're so young, and they already have bounties?" Jessica leaned in to look at the posters curiously.
"Ah… aside from that skeleton, the other boys are anything but ordinary! Look—they're here!" Jonathan remembered how stunned he'd been when he first read Fang Yi and the others' files.
Jessica followed his gaze toward the bay, where a dragon-headed pirate ship slowly sailed out to sea.
"Hey! Fang Yi, look over there!" From atop the mast, Buggy spotted Jonathan and Jessica standing on the shore. Even without navy uniforms, he recognized them instantly.
"Looks like we owe our smooth escape to Tipani," Fang Yi said. "Brook, go bring her out."
"Yohohoho… right away!" Brook replied cheerfully.
Tipani had just finished writing her letter when Brook called her.
"Brother Jonathan… Sister Jessica!" At the sight of her two benefactors, Tipani's tears finally spilled over.
"Letter done?" Fang Yi saw her only wave in silence and knew she didn't want to say anything out loud.
"Y-yeah… it's done… sniff…" She sobbed as she handed Fang Yi a pink envelope.
"Heh… watch this!" Fang Yi tied the letter to an arrow, strode to the bow, drew, and fired toward shore.
Swish!
The arrow hissed through the air and landed neatly at Jonathan's feet.
"Heh… brat. Giving me one last show before leaving, huh? Is this your way of telling me you can take care of Tipani?" Jonathan bent down, pulled out the arrow, and untied the pink letter with a small smile.
Jessica wasn't listening—she was still caught up in the sadness of saying goodbye.
"Alright, let's go. I've covered up this whole pirate intrusion incident, but I'll still have to give Commander Gerald an explanation," Jonathan said, watching the Dragon Wolf disappear into the distance.
"You think it's okay for Tipani to go with them? Those kids didn't exactly look reliable," Jessica asked, still worried.
"Hahaha… If you didn't trust them, why let her leave? Besides, they're gone now—too late to chase them even if we wanted to," Jonathan said, laughing.
"Laugh, laugh, laugh—that's all you do!" Jessica punched him in mock anger, making the major general duck and cover his head.
"Tipani… you'd better be happy," Jessica murmured, watching the Dragon Wolf become a speck on the horizon.
Meanwhile, aboard the Dragon Wolf, the sadness was already gone—replaced with a festive mood.
"To welcome our new crewmate… let's have a banquet!" Fang Yi announced.
"Yeah~~!" No one would ever refuse a feast.
"Hey, head chef—what are you still doing standing there, sipping juice and grinning? Go make the banquet food!" Brook teased.
"Eh?" Tipani froze, realizing she was no longer Jessica's assistant—she was now the actual cook.
"Sorry, sorry… I just forgot!" She scratched her head sheepishly before heading for the kitchen.
"Uh… you think she can handle this?" Fang Yi asked, doubt creeping in. Everyone except Barrett exchanged the same worried look.
When Tipani entered the galley, the whole group—again, minus Barrett—quietly followed to see if she could cook.
Chop chop chop… clang clang clang…
"Whoa~~" The sounds from the kitchen soon turned to exclamations of surprise.
"Captain? What are you all doing back there?" Tipani noticed them without missing a beat in her work.
"Your cooking skills are amazing!" Fang Yi stepped out with the others, giving up the pretense.
"Hehe… Captain, you didn't trust me, did you?" Tipani grinned.
"Uh… maybe just a little. Honestly, we were planning to say 'delicious' no matter what you made—but wow, you're the real deal!" Fang Yi admitted. He believed crewmates should be honest—just like back in the Roger Pirates.
"Of course! I told you—I learned from Sister Jessica. I'm really good! …Only thing is, the tools here aren't quite right. My cooking set is still back at the base," Tipani said, pouting a little.
"No problem. Next island, we'll have a set made just for you," Fang Yi promised.
"Really? Captain, you're the best! Oh, and… my cabin's a bit plain. Can I buy decorations? And I need clothes too—I left in such a rush, I didn't bring anything," she added quickly.
"Buy! We'll buy it all!" Fang Yi agreed.
Buggy scowled. "Yeah? And you got the money for that?"
"Ahem… this is an emergency. Buggy, I know you've got treasure stashed. Lend me some—I'll give you an IOU. Once we find a big score, I'll pay you back," Fang Yi said, a little embarrassed.
"In your dreams! That's my treasure—you think I'll hand it over?" Buggy snapped.
"Borrow! Not take! I'll pay you back! We just have to take down some wanted criminals, and we'll have plenty of cash," Fang Yi insisted.
"That's right, Buggy! Tipani's our new crewmate—don't you think you should chip in as a senior?" Shanks joined in.
"Yeah! Some senior you are—stingiest one I've ever seen!" Fang Yi added, teaming up with Shanks to corner him.
Tipani giggled as she cooked, secretly enjoying the noisy banter.
"So this is life with pirates… doesn't seem bad at all."
She could tell the arguments were just play—except for Buggy, who was getting flustered.
By the time Tipani finished cooking, Buggy had somehow agreed to a lot—like covering half of her supply costs himself, with the other half "borrowed" by Fang Yi.
And, since Fang Yi claimed it was too undignified for a captain to sign such things, he had Vice-Captain Shanks sign the IOU instead.
At that moment, Barrett was profoundly grateful he'd never been made vice-captain—just imagining it made him cringe.
From that day on, Fang Yi seemed to get a taste for it. In the years to come, he would borrow from many pirate crews—but the IOUs always bore one name: Shanks.